The Hadaka Matsuri ("Naked Festival") is a traditional Japanese festival held in Saidaiji Kannonin Temple in Okayama Prefecture. The festival is held every year on the twelfth day of the Chinese calendar's first month. The festival consists of two days of fighting between men dressed as demons and priests spray cold water with ladles at all participants. And finally, a lucky person will be crowned "naked man" for the year by grabbing one of two sacred sticks from a crowd of other men that have been whipped into a frenzy by hours of battle and cold water. Although it may seem strange to outsiders looking in, this tradition has been going on for centuries—and many people believe it will continue for many more years to come!
The history of the festival is steeped in folklore and legend. Originally it was celebrated as a way to welcome spring.
The history of the festival is steeped in folklore and legend. Originally it was celebrated as a way to welcome spring, but over time it has become more about celebrating fertility and sexual energy.
The festival is known by many names, including Hadaka Matsuri, Naked Festival, and Hadaka no Sekku (literally "naked boys"). There are also many variations on this theme depending on where you're located in Japan--for example, the Naked Man Festival in Kyoto, Hachioji Naked Festival, or any other regional variations that can be found throughout Japan at various times throughout the year.
Despite being called the Naked Festival, most participants wear a fundoshi (a loincloth), and the only person who wears nothing is the so-called "naked man," who wears only a towel over his shoulder.
Fundoshi is not underwear; they're for modesty and warmth--not for keeping your junk warm! They're like short shorts with no legs and a string tied together at each hip. They're made from cotton or linen fabric that lets air flow through easily while still protecting sensitive areas from chafing against each other in clothes made of stiffer materials like wool or synthetic fibers that don't breathe as well as natural fibers do.
This "naked man" is believed to be lucky and will help bring prosperity to all in the years to come.
The only person who wears nothing at Hadaka Matsuri is the "naked man." He wears only a towel over his shoulder, which he uses as protection against cold weather, but otherwise is naked, and his junk is on display for all to see.
The fighting begins on Saturday evening when about 10,000 people gather in Saidaiji Kannonin Temple's grounds for the first fight.
The fighting begins on Saturday evening when about 10,000 people gather in Saidaiji Kannonin Temple's grounds for the first fight.
The fighters are all local residents who want to get into the temple grounds and knock their opponents down with a stick. Those who succeed get to enter the holy place where they will pray and offer incense sticks to Buddha.
The second fight begins after midnight when the "naked man" finally appears, along with two assistant priests dressed as demons. The crowd cheers and shouts in excitement as they begin their procession through the streets of Isehara.
The naked man is the only person who is naked; everyone else wears traditional Japanese clothing or costumes. He also wears a mask over his face and carries bells on his arms that jingle as he walks through town--some say this noise can ward off evil spirits.
The naked priest represents prosperity for all in the years to come, so it's considered good luck if you get splashed by liquid thrown by one of these priests during their parade!
Priests douse the crowd with cold water from large wooden ladles, adding to the chaos.
The festival is held annually by several different shrines in Japan. The main purpose of this festival is to purify people's souls, but it also serves as a way for young men and women to find potential marriage partners.
Priests dressed as demons throw cold water on the crowd during Hadaka Matsuri festivals. They wear red masks and black robes covering their entire bodies except for their heads. On top of these outfits, they wear wooden headpieces shaped like horns or animal faces such as tigers or dragons! These priests throw two sacred sticks into the crowd during Hadaka Matsuri festivals: one stick represents male sexuality, and the other represents female sexuality (you might have heard about this before).
At 2 a.m., they light torches that illuminate the shrine's main hall, where a lucky male participant will grab one of two sacred sticks thrown into a crowd of men that's already been whipped into a frenzy by hours of battle and cold water.
A priest throws these sticks from atop his platform, chanting prayers as he does so. The men in this crowd are prepared for this moment: They've been practicing for weeks to catch those sticks and win their prize (usually having their debts forgiven).
Conclusion
This festival is unlike any other, and it's certainly not for everyone. But if you're looking for something unique and exciting, then Hadaka Matsuri might be just what you need.
